Every year Travel and Leisure magazine carries out a survey to come up for the winners of the World’s Best Awards; the awards include the best hotels, cities, airlines, restaurants, cruise lines, transportation, and much more. The survey was made available at tlworldsbest.com from November 6, 2017 through March 5, 2018, readers of the magazine were invited to participate through the different p...

Recently, the General Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica had to implement a call center service to handle the large number of appointments for refugee applications, the majority of which come from Nicaraguan citizens. Even though, the Director of Migration, Raquel Vargas and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Epsy Campbell have stated in different occasions that the situation is still not con...

Let’s review last week’s political happenings starting with former Vice President Joe Biden’s speech Friday in Phoenix that was downright scary. His voice echoed with political hate as he spoke before a Latino civil rights group. Here’s what Biden actually said in reference to the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policies at the Mexico-USA border, “Grotesque lies – lies about...

Epsy Campbell, Vice-President of Costa Rica and Minister of Foreign Affairs announced today that Costa Rica has opened two shelters for the assistance of Nicaraguans that are fleeing this country as a result of the violence and social-economic crisis. One of the shelters is in the North Zone close to the Nicaraguan frontier and the other one is in the South Zone in Golfito, since according to C...

(Press Release - US Embassy Managua) On Thursday, July 19, the celebration of the Sandinista Revolution will take place in Managua. The event is scheduled to take place at 2:00 p.m. at Plaza la Fe, although attendees will likely gather before noon. U.S. Government personnel have been advised to remain in their neighborhoods during the celebration. Road closures and traffic disruptions are expe...

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) presided by Ambassador of Costa Rica Rita Hernandez approved a resolution condemning the acts of violence in Nicaragua and called on all parties to participate “actively and in good faith” in the National Dialogue and urged the Government “to support an electoral calendar”. The resolution approved by the Permanent Council with 2...

The tourism industry in Nicaragua is one of the most affected as a result of the crisis that goes now on three months and has left close to 350 people dead and thousands injured. During the month of June, Volaris Airlines had announced the suspension of its flights from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, and hotels such as Mukul Auberge Resorts Collection in Rivas, the Seminole Hotel and the Teodolinda M...

“The Government of Costa Rica strongly condemns the use of violence in students and citizens on the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAM)”; the Costa Rican government made the statement this Sunday when ten people were killed and dozens more wounded in clashes in Nicaragua. “For decades Costa Rica has dedicated to promoting peace and liberty, democracy and development, for this rea...

He is considered a pioneer of rafting, eco-lodges and eco-tourism in Costa Rica, Michael Kaye a native of New York, passed away in the country that welcomed him and became his home since 1978. Michael Kaye fell in love with Costa Rica 40 years ago, and since then he dedicated his life to promoting the natural wonders of this country. Him and his wife founded the company Costa Rica Expeditions, ...

For a period of three weeks from May 16 through June 9, 2018, the US 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron conducted their first-ever mission to Costa Rica, a three-week building partnership capacity mission with the air vigilance service, (SVA – Servicio de Vigilancia Aereo). “This was our first mission to Costa Rica and my team executed and established the groundwork to build and strengthe...

Under the slogan, “Together we are a Volcano” (Juntos somos un volcán) thousands of Nicaraguans took to the streets of Managua this Thursday, July 12 to demand the resignation of President Daniel Ortega. The march is the first of three days of scheduled protests against the Nicaraguan government, this Friday protesters call for a national strike and on Saturday a civic caravan. Ortega however, ref...

Costa Rica and El Salvador officially announced that both countries already have the necessary conditions for the beginning of the operations of the Central American Ferry, establishing a route for exports and imports between the ports of La Union in El Salvador and Caldera in Costa Rica. The initiative would connect the maritime commercial flow between the two nations, with the purpose of cons...

Thousands of supporters of the government of President Daniel Ortega marched this Saturday in Managua, Nicaragua to chants of “He stays, my commander stays!”, “We want peace!”. President Ortega finally broke silence with regards to the demands of early elections made by protestors and ruled out this possibility, speaking to supporters and state employees, he stated: “The rules here are set b...

PRESS RELEASE Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to crime, civil unrest, and limited healthcare availability. On July 6, 2018, the U.S. government ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel. The U.S. Embassy remains open to provide emergency services for U.S. citizens. Heavily armed, government-controlled parapolice forces in civilian clothing, sometimes numbering i...

Roadside fruit stands are a delightful culinary experience not to be missed while traveling through Costa Rica. The country's tropical climate and fertile volcanic soil create excellent conditions for a wide range of fruits to flourish. Although travelers may be familiar with fruits such as mango, papaya, pineapple, bananas, and coconut, Costa Rica offers a wide variety of nutritious and tasty tro...

A group of U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica, gathered in front of the US embassy this Saturday to manifest against Trump’s immigration policies. Chanting “What is democracy? Resisting is Democracy!” and “We are ashamed!” while holding signs with messages like “Liberty for children in the boarder”, “No to families’ separation”, “They are refugees, please help them”, “Stop tearing families apar...

An imposing figure, known for its activity, the Poás Volcano is a perfect example of how a “living mountain” can bring about diverse, exciting tourist attractions in the neighboring areas. In this case, this area includes the communities of Poás, Vara Blanca, Fraijanes, Poasito, Sarchí and Bajos del Toro. Just a few days away from the country's mid-term vacation, between July 2-13, this region ...

UnCruise Adventures announced their new options for 10 and 12 night cruises in Costa Rica and Panama which will begin April 2019 and carrying through September. UnCruise Adventures is known for its small ships that have capacity for 22-90 guests and carry adventure gear for travelers to enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, biking, snorkeling, etc. "After a year of operating in Costa Rica...

A new report released today by the non-governmental organization, Nicaraguan Pro Human Rights Association (ANPDH in Spanish), confirms that the total number of victims that the conflict in this country has left since April 18 is 285, while 2500 have been injured, 156 are missing and 42 are permanently disabled; the report also details that among those who lost their live are 20 minors, 1 journalis...

There is only one way to end the ongoing USA/Mexico border conflict and that is to close the border for the time being. Round up those 2,000-plus children and reunite them with their parents. Then send all of them -- currently assaulting the USA/Mexico border seeking asylum -- back over the Mexico border and slam the door shut! Say goodbye! Deny all asylum applications and make them reapply at the...

Photo Credit: ShowtimeBoxing Shields got the win with scores of 98-91, 97-92, 97-92 and earned, her second World Title in a very short time as a professional. The native of Michigan holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Female Super Middleweight Champion (168 lbs.) and today won the IBF and WBA Female Middleweight World Titles (160 lbs). It was ...

Costa Rican World Champion Hanna Gabriels is in Detroit ready to face U.S. World Champion Claressa Shields this Friday, June 22. Both fighters  successfully made weight, weighing in at 159.6 lbs just below the 160 lbs limit. The Costa Rican is the current WBO (World Boxing Organization) and WBA (Word Boxing Association) Female World Super Welterweight Champion (154 lbs.); while Shields is a ...

Left-wing propaganda, outright lies, misinformation, distortions, misrepresentations, falsehoods – all describe the current mainstream media coverage of the ongoing Mexican border controversy. There has been a recent surge of illegal immigrants attempting to come into United States of America illegally – in between legal border crossings -- using their children as a shield from prosecution -- w...

The Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State issued a Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory for Nicaragua due to “crime, civil unrest and limited healthcare availability”. Nicaragua has been facing a serious crisis that began in April 18, when college students took to the streets to protest the revocation of the social security and pension reforms approved unilaterally...

The Costa Rica National Soccer team had its last friendly match before their debut in the Russia World Cup which is scheduled for Sunday. “La Sele” fell to Belgium 4 goals to 1, in a match that demonstrated why Belgium holds the third spot of the FIFA ranking. In the first 20 minutes of the first half, Costa Rica actually looked structured as both teams measured up; the Ticos actually opened ...

The eruptions this Sunday of the Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala which caused, according to the latest data, at least 62 deaths, several people injured and almost two million people affected, raised the question on whether an emergency of this type could happen with one of the active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The National Seismology Network in Costar Rica posted in their Facebook account “Volcan d...

Is it time for President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress to cut loose the unincorporated USA territory of Puerto Rico? Is it time to say goodbye and let them have their own sovereign island nation independent from the USA? Hurricane season 2018 just started and some 10,000 families in back woods Puerto Rico are still without electrical power despite 10-months of restoration efforts following...

The Guatemala airport has remained closed since yesterday after the eruptions of Volcan de Fuego; the eruptions of the volcano which stands at 3,763 meters and is situated 35 kilometers southwest of Guatemala City caused the death of at least 25 people. International Airport of La Aurora remained closed for several hours due to the emergency and currently is operating irregularly causing the di...

Violence in Nicaragua continues, and this Saturday it left another three fatal victims, among them, a United States citizen. The death of the three men occurred in confusing circumstances during conflict between mobs. The American citizen was identified by Nicaraguan authorities as Sixto Henry Vera, 48 years of age and it was attributed to “delinquent groups that operate in the area with fi...

Photo: Archives The crisis continues in Nicaragua as the government and the opposition fail to come to terms. According to EFE, the Nicaraguan Health Minister Sonia Castro confirmed Thursday that 15 people have died and 199 have been wounded over the past two days of protests around the country. While the Nicaraguan Center of Human Rights (CENIDH) detailed in a preliminary report that enco...

How could anyone in their right mind give support for MS-13 gangsters? These “animals” and “vicious killers” as President Donald Trump refers to them are being arrested, jailed and deported in record numbers. Their unabated criminal activity is the only way these ‘people’ can support themselves because nobody in their right mind would hire them to do anything positive or constructive so they sell ...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica, stated through a press release on Sunday evening, their position regarding the presidential elections that took place in Venezuela that same day. “Costa Rica does not recognize the legitimacy of the electoral process carried out this Sunday, May 20 in the Republic of Venezuela”. Costa Rica considers the election processed lacked transparency sinc...

1,276 Venezuelan citizens are registered to vote in Costa Rica, however, the majority chose not to cast their vote and this was evident in the movement at the Venezuelan embassy in San Pedro were very few made an appearance. Even though they preferred not to vote, members of this community gathered at the Plaza de la Democracia in San Jose to protest against this election process/ “None of us ...

Tension continue in Nicaragua where after three weeks the protests against the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.    The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh) has the death toll raised to 50, however, other humanitarian organizations register as many as 63 dead. The protests are led by the group “April 19 Student Movement” formed by university students which has also receive...

Photo by Andy Mann / Waitt Foundation Facebook The expedition between Galapagos Island National Park in Ecuador and Coco Island National Park in Costa Rica took place April 2 through April 13 with the purpose of identifying marine migratory species that use this route and to quantify their distribution, abundance and diversity of their predators. The expedition was possible thanks to the joi...

Costa Rica and Ecuador signed an agreement of cooperation for the conservation of the marine species and birds that will allow the strengthening of the conservation actions, control and protection of the ecosystems in the national parks Coco Island and Galapagos Island respectively. “The agreement Frame of Cooperation between the Direction of the National Park Galapagos in Ecuador and the Natio...

Editor’s note: The views expressed by guest columnists are not necessarily those of The Costa Rica Star, its advertisers, or its staff This caravan of illegal immigrants from Central America that Mexico allowed through their southern border a month ago has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico seeking asylum. The standoff has begun. News reports claim this caravan started out with about 1,500 men, women a...

The sentence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) received earlier this year in favor of Costa Rica, regarding the cases of “Maritime Delimitation Claim in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua)” and “Terrestrial Frontier in the North Area of Isla Portillos (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua)”, allowed Costa Rica to update the map of the country to include 36, 000 km2 of maritime t...

The Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo, wife of President Daniel Ortega, announced Monday the revocation of the social security and pension reforms (approved unilaterally without the approval of congress), that sparked the protests last week which have left close to 30 fatalities. Despite this measure, the street protests and violence have not seized in the Central American country, thou...

Protests in Nicaragua began three days ago when citizens took to the streets to protest changes in the country’s pension system and social security reforms. The government of Nicaragua finally accepted a call for dialogue by the private sector. The protests have led to widespread  violence in the country that have killed at least 10 people (the official number reported by the government) and in...